Some Ag questions

[JDgator]

Can you guys help me out? I'd like to ask some basic farming questions Ive been pondering but am too embarassed to ask in person:

What is the name of the implement used to rake hay into rows after it has been cut? How about the implement used to roll hay into those big bales?

They are harvesting corn in and around Tupelo/Okalona, I see the farmers are also rolling the cut corn stalks into bales. Is this is for feeding livestock? Is it more or less nutritious than say, cut millet or some other wheat? Does a bale of corn stalks fetch more money than other varieties or feed?

Why would somebody choose 120 over 90 corn? If I can plant 2 crops of 90 day corn to your 1 crop of 120 day corn I have two harvests to your 1 right?

How do you know what fertilizers to use for your soil? As with every business decision, there must be a break even point at which it is no longer economically viable to add fertilizers & pesticides. Is there software that helps you model these business decisions? It must be especially important now that diesel is so high.

Are there consultants who specialize in helping farmers get the highest profit margin possible out of their operations?

If anybody has any thoughts, I appreciate it.

[missed mallards]

You need to talk to someone from MSU. Farming is a business just like anything else. you have to talk to someone who has either done it or has knowledge of doing, a college. MSU Ext. Ser. would be a great place to check.

as far as the questions.

1. Always heard it call a hay rake?
2. I don't believe corn stalks have as much nutrition as other grasses. therefor don't believe they bring as much per bale. It could be a cheap suppliment food for cattle, i don't know? If the bales where really worth something the delta would be bailing every stalk.
3. Depends on how many acreas your planting and harvest dates. It sucks when all your crops come out at the same time and you have 5,000 acreas to combine. Weather has a great deal on it. don't put all your eggs in the same basket. grandad learned this the hard way when he started farming. he was still cutting beans in late december haveing to go as slow as possible to keep the wake from pushing them over.
4. get someone to test your soil. Yes there are budgets. it depends on how you run your farm.
5. yes


these are IMO. Swing by your local extention service and talk to an agent. come to MSU and there are many people here that would help you out.

[Super-X]

Well, here goes:
1 a it's a hay rake -there are a couple of different styles
b it's a hay baler --can be for square bales or round bales

2 not sure about the corn stalks more/less nutritious
have seen oats baled for hay as well as many different types of
grasses & legumes such as alfalfa & clovers
Thinkin maybe with the drought corn stalks are much better than
nothing at all.
I'd guess probably not as palatable therefore should cost less.
The farmer may have a grinder/mixer and be able to grind those
stalks and mix with cotton seed or soybean meal, minerals, etc
to make their own type of steer-feed

3 choice of 120-day vs 90 day crop - - one may fit better in the
schedule of planting & harvesting.... might be tough getting two
crops of 90 day corn all the way through... you'd be planting the
second in june/july & corn does better with rain & worms are less
of a problem earlier...

4 You can take soil samples and have them analyzed through
your county agent/MSU. This will tell you based on what crop
you're planning to grow how much lime is needed to adjust the
soil ph, and also how much fertilizer in Nitrogen/Phosphorus/Potash.
There are ag-consultants who can help with recommendations,
entomogists who tell you what insects are working on your crop &
what to spray, etc. You'd probably have to keep up with the markets
and like any other business have a plan, so yeah, there's a point
where you have to make decisions that will ultimately affect profits
or the lack of them.....

I'd say start with your county extension office/county agent, continue
on with MSU, and possibly Farm Bureau for info. The only way to find
out something you need to know is to ask the questions to the right people.

Good luck with your search - hope you find the answers you need.

[hillhunter]

1. Hay Rake and Hay Baler

2.Actually a lot of what is going on this year due to poor yields caused by drought is farmers are selling the whole crop to be baled for hay. The stalk itself is not nutritious but with grain in there it wouldn't be a bad feed. If they are just rolling up the stalks however after they combine, I couldn't see the nutrional value in that.

3. We probably could get away with doing that in some years, but consider this. Corn's optimum growth temperature is somewhere around 84-88 degrees and growth decreases when temperatures are not optimum. When temps are above 95 degrees it doesn't grow at all. If you harvested your first crop in late June or July and then immediately replanted the seedlings would be under constant stress from time of emergence, resulting in severely reduced yields if any yield because temps above 92 degrees for a certain duration also sterilizes the pollen, thus no kernal of corn. So to answer your question, I'm not sure the imputs would be worth it, and also the 90 day corn is designed for the northern states which have longer days and get more sunlight in a 24 hour period that we do..just another thought. (Not sure if the temperatrure staements are dead on but they are close...its been a while since I had that class.) Also like Super X said insects would be more of a problem this time of year.

4. Super X is dead on on this one. The soil tests will tell you how much of each nutrient is needed for an particular crop. Economics have been somewhat considered when they make these recommendations throught the software program. In other words they do not tell you how much you need to make the absolute maximum yield, cause you will not make it anyway due to insects, weeds, rainfall, but they tell you how much you need for the plant to not be limited by a particular nutrient.

5. Yes there are consultants. Most deal with Cotton, Rice, Soybeans, and Sweet Potatoes. Usually when a farmer hires a consultant he expected to be able to answer questions about the whole spectrum of insects, weeds, fertility, chemicals and rates, liability issues with the chemicals (will it kill my fish), and sometimes just general decision making. To legally be a crop consultant in MS, you must have a license through the state.

[JDgator]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the good advice. I spoke a professor at Mississippi State who put me in contact with my local extension agent. The extension agent said I am part of a growing trend of 20 to 30-somethings who don't know much about farming. He said fewer and fewer are interested every year. Bottom line - he was glad I was interested in learning more & offered to help me out. I am going an "assistant extension agent" for an afternoon so I can ride along and learn more.

One more question: if fewer qualified people are interested, then who is going to take over these positions (farmers, extension agents, etc) when the current generation retires?

[Duck$$$]

Nobody probably. How are our grandkids going to eat? Everybody is so worried about the oil issue. They should be worried about the drought going on and the continuing decline in young farmers. I think the median age of the American farmer is now in the upper 50's to 60. Something to ponder, people take food in this country for granted.

[SB]

Good question, JDgator.

[Corn Doc]

120 day corn hybrids are generally much better adapted to MS and are thus more productive than 90 day corn.

High temperature tolerance plays a large role in adaptability, but there are rarely, if ever temperature thresholds that can't be overcome with a little water...

They should be worried about the drought going on and the continuing decline in young farmers. I think the median age of the American farmer is now in the upper 50's to 60. Something to ponder, people take food in this country for granted.

Amen. Farmers get the same price for their products that they got 30 years ago and their expenses, including fuel, equipment, fertilizer prices, etc... are .